HARMAN joins ng Connect Program to Advance the Adoption and Development of End-to-End Ecosystem Connectivity in the Car

19-July-2011

Focus on Total Automotive Connectivity so Consumers can Experience a Safe, Always-On Digital Lifestyle

STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT – HARMAN, the premium audio and infotainment group (NYSE:HAR), todayannounced its participation in the ng Connect Program, the multi-industry open innovation ecosystem founded by Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU).

Within ng Connect, Harman’s role will be to advance innovations around connecting the full range of digital devices and platforms, so that the automobile becomes a natural extension of both the office and the home – with a critical focus on safety.Harman is committed to enabling broad consumer tech integration, based on palpable consumer demand for everything – be it a car or a consumer device -- to become fully connected to the Internet.In addition to this role as technological first-mover and innovator, Harman will act as an industry steward around safety, ensuring that all automotive technology strides occur such that a driver’s hands never leave the wheel, and eyes never leave the road.

“Harman is honored to join with other thought leaders in the ng Connect Program,” remarked Sachin Lawande, chief technology officer of Harman. “ng Connect brings together the best and most innovative companies from all corners of the connectivity landscape, and Harman’s contribution to the program’s objectives is a natural extension of our existing work. Our vision of bringing an ecosystem for complete connectivity to consumers on a massive scale – whether they’re in the car, at home or on the go – syncs perfectly with the ng Connect mission. We are thrilled to be on board.”

“Harman is a proven leader in the audio and infotainment industry with more than 60 years of creating the ultimate experience in sound and multimedia for its customers who include top names in entertainment, automotive and venues, and strong commitment to innovation.This passion to innovate is what drives us to show the industry what is possible with next generation technologies and we look forward to exploring that with Harman,” said Jason Collins, VP of Emerging Technology and Innovation, Alcatel-Lucent, founder of the ng Connect Program. “We are pleased to welcome Harman to the program and we look forward to collaborating with them to enhance the new connected user experience.”

About HARMAN

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 12,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.6 billion for the twelve months ending March 31, 2011. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.

About The ng Connect Program

The ng Connect Program is the collaborative open innovation engine that explores and creates the new generation connected user experience. Engaging with its dynamic multi-industry membership, it drives relevance and revenue generation for the entire digital value chain. Founded by Alcatel-Lucent, the ng Connect Program is comprised of more than 60 members including leading network, consumer electronics, application and content providers. Together, ng Connect members have developed 20 innovative service concepts across a wide range of industries including automotive, retail and entertainment. For a full list of members please visit: http://www.ngconnect.org/members/index.htm and for more information on the ng Connect Program, visit: www.ngconnect.org. Follow us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ngConnect.